One (1) female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven (7) years.

One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in six (6) years.

The statistics above are from The Humane Society of the United States Pet Overpopulation Facts (1999).

Spaying and neutering your pet is not only beneficial to their health, but to your conscience. Pet overpopulation is a horrible reality, as you can see by the replicating graphic.

YOU can make a difference! There are free and low-cost options!

Even indoor pets play a part in the population problem since sometime in its lifetime, it is likely to get outdoors and let "nature" rule.

What You Can Do?

First, call the offices of Spay/USA and/or Friends of Animals (see below). They have information about discount spay/neuter services in many towns across the country.

You can also find other spay/neuter services by phoning local humane and cat rescue groups (even groups in nearby towns). Usually such groups keep informed of spay/neuter services in their region. If you have rescued a cat or you take care of feral cats, ask local vet clinics whether they offer some kind of good-Samaritan discount.

Prices can vary widely even in the same city. Also, when discussing prices, be sure to ask whether there are any other charges or fees in addition to the price of the spay/neuter. For example, sometimes a clinic will require that a cat receive a rabies vaccination if he has not already had one

People put off spay/neuter due to issues of money, transportation, or time. Some people believe it's more fair to allow the cat to mate "just this once" -- or they think a female cat's pregnancy and kittens will be sweet or educational for their human children. Also, some people don't know these facts:

* Cats can start mating as early as six months

* Even indoor-only house cats often find ways to get outdoors when the sexual urge hits them.

* An unaltered male cat can father hundreds of kittens a year.

* Statistically speaking, even if a person finds good homes for a litter of kittens, some of the kittens will grow up and produce litters of homeless kittens.

* Spaying a female before her first heat protects her from risks of uterine, ovarian, and mammary cancers and protects her from the stresses of pregnancies.

* Spaying reduces her frantic interest in the outdoors and reduces the chances that she'll wander far.

* Spaying reduces the chances she'll mark your home with urine when she's in heat.

* Unaltered cats have urges that make them irritable and anxious. They yowl or whine frequently, fight with other cats, and/or destroy objects in the house.

* Neutering a male reduces his risk from numerous health problems and reduces his tendency to spray in the home.